At the beginning of a game,

you should try to get as many of your pieces out onto the playing field as possible.

Beginners are advised not to move the same piece more than once during the opening,

the idea being to get your army positioned before the big attack.

It does you little good to send knight after bishop into the other

player's territory, only to be picked off one-by-one.

You'll do better to remember there are safety in numbers.

Get your knights and bishops out into the center as soon as you can,

position your rooks in any empty rows, and situate your queen

on a central square; then you'll be ready to execute both your plan and your opponent.